By Amit Acco, Partner |
The Population and Immigration Authority has detained 29 foreign nationals at the “Sandwich Arad” factory in Tel Aviv, a key supplier to TMM, El Al’s in-flight catering subsidiary, as well as to other airlines and government entities.
According to the Authority, enforcement officers from the Tel Aviv District discovered that the workers did not hold valid visas authorizing employment at the facility. The individuals detained include five men and one woman from Thailand with agricultural work permits; four men and two women from India holding tourist visas; fifteen women from the Philippines and one from Sri Lanka with caregiving sector permits; and one woman from Colombia on a tourist visa.
A criminal investigation has been opened against the factory on suspicion of unlawful employment practices.
KTA advise
At Kan-Tor and Acco, we have observed a dramatic increase in workplace inspections by the Population and Immigration Authority in recent months. These inspections span all sectors — including factories, service industries, high-tech companies, and construction sites.
We strongly advise all employers to ensure that any individual they hire — whether directly or through a manpower or staffing agency — holds a valid visa that explicitly permits employment with their company. Employers may not rely on the defense that the workers were hired by third-party or HR service providers. These personal’s visas must be checked.
The current enforcement policy places direct criminal liability on company managers involved in such employment practices. These criminal charges can result in serious consequences, including restrictions on international travel (notably to the U.S. and EU) for the managers within the organization, as well as limitations on the company’s ability to employ foreign nationals in the future.
